I've settled into this place quite nicely. The humans here are very friendly. They pet me and feed me and they chat with me whenever they walk passed me which I really like. I also like to talk back to them. *wheek wheek*!

I have some pretty big news. I've moved AGAIN. Not into a new house, but into a larger cage this time... And that's only the half of it! I've met a new guinea pig too. We're still getting to know one another so I'm not quite sure how I feel about him but to be honest with you I think he might have a bit of a crush on me... His name is Tayto but the humans call him Tater.

We first met when the woman put us both in the bathtub (yea, that horrible place again). At first he and I were both too distracted by the various foods that were in the tub (much better than water if you ask me) to really notice one another but once I finished eating I just had to figure this creature out. He was really puffy and all his hairs stand up on end. I felt awkward and wasn't really sure what to say so I sniffed him.

Then I sniffed him some more.

And then some more still.

I think I may have made him uncomfortable because he snapped. He lunged and mounted and humped and rumbled. I wasn't impressed and gave him the same bad attitude right back. We bickered and fought and squeaked and squealed pausing only for naps...

Where was I? Oh right, the bickering. When I said it went on for hours I assure you I wasn't exaggerating. After a while our human believed we were settled down enough to put us into a thoroughly cleaned cage... She realized shortly after that it was too soon for that. We were right back at it again!

*nip nip* *lunge* *whirl* *nip*

Suddenly we were in the bathtub. AGAIN. It was filled with something I'm remember clearly and am really not so keen on - water. You know who likes water even less than I? Tater! I mean seriously, you should have seen him. He was freaking out. He tried to climb out of the tub, jump into the woman's hands, scratch his way up her arm but finally resigned himself to the fact that we were both going to drown (I really think he believed this). He came over to me and huddled against me, presumably to determine if I could be used as a floatation device or something... To my surprise he just stood there. Together we stayed still while she shampooed and rinsed us.

When bath time was all said and done the tub was drained but Tayto still wouldn't leave my side. In that moment we were both too wet to worry about who was king of the castle.

They were pretty miserable, but they've already gotten over it. I think they've even forgiven me.

More soon! I promise, Clairey! I've been really busy the last couple of days... Busy getting myself a conditional offer of admission into college. Woo! I'm taking a 1 year Veterinary Assistant program with hopes of getting accepted into a Technician program in 2015.

Hiya. I'm sorry there hasn't been a conclusion to the introduction story yet. Reese isn't having the greatest week. He's broken his two lower incisors and is having a hard time eating, I'm hand feeding him all of his meals now. There are no hard objects in his cage aside from a food dish (no hideys to fight over) so I suspect that his teeth may be breaking as a result of not receiving proper nutrition prior to coming to live with us... Though I'm not sure why it is only happening now? I feel terribly for him and am so worried that he might break his other teeth now too. :(

Anyhow, in spite of this he is in good spirits and has asked me to remind you all of how handsome he is.

Poor Reese but thankfully he has a great mom. Hope no more teeth break off. Understand that they do grow back quickly, especially since he's on a much better diet. He's looking quite adorable despite his loss of teeth.

Thanks for the reassurance GP_mum, initially I was quite shocked. I've had guinea pigs for over 20 years but have never had one break a tooth so badly (let alone two). Thankfully no more have broken off since I last wrote and with any luck they'll grow back in no time.

It's so smoochable, Tashab! I can't resist it! Hee hee.

Hand feeding has been a very good bonding exercise for us. When I approach with veggies he puts his little paws up on the side of the cage. He eats them from my hands and is happy to get pets and scritches while he eats.